The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many aspects of life in 2020. One of the primary disruptions has been the closures of office spaces that has resulted in a large portion of the workforce working from home. While working from home has its benefits, it also has its own unique challenges. Read on for tips and tricks on how to maximize productivity when working remote.
Keep a normal schedule
When working remote, it is important to strive to keep a normal schedule. This means having set hours for work and set hours for down time and leisure activities. With the office and home now occupying the same space, the lines between work and personal time will begin to blur. Setting and sticking to a normal schedule will help keep the two separate and prevent workers from burning out or feeling overworked. This in turn will help boost productivity when workers are on the clock.
Take breaks and get outside
In a remote environment it is critical to take breaks. Like a day in the office, when workers enjoyed a morning coffee break or ate lunch outside on a nice day, a workday at home should be broken up intermittently with breaks. They do not need to be long. A simple 10-15 minutes will provide the brain with a break and allow it to recharge away from the computer. Getting outside and going for a walk can be especially beneficial. The exercise and fresh air will help maintain both physical and mental health.
Invest in a good workspace
A good workspace can make long hours working at home more tolerable and productive. It is worth the investment. Purchase several monitors if used to working on more than a laptop. Get a mouse and keyboard. Buy a desk to avoid having to work from the couch or kitchen table, which are locations that can detract from a productive mindset. To go along with the desk, buy a nice ergonomic office chair that will provide a more comfortable seat. Many people invest a lot of time in their careers, and a home workspace should reflect this commitment.
Maintain the social aspect of work
One of the best things about the office is the ability to connect and socialize with coworkers. This can take the form of happy hours or simply stopping by a colleague’s cube for a quick chat. Working from home should not prevent this from being commonplace. Look to schedule virtual happy hours or other virtual events as a team. Or simply put some time on a coworker’s calendar to catch up on a brief video call or coffee chat. Such simple actions can help combat the loneliness and isolation that working from home can cause and can help a team operate as a more cohesive unit.
While working from home has been an adjustment for many, the simple tips and tricks above can help workers thrive in this new normal.
